Tories slam COI for record levels of ad spend

The Tories have criticised the COI’s record levels of advertising spend in the run up to the general election, calling it an “abuse” of public money.

The central government spent around £30 million on advertising in January 2010, which is the highest level of spend on record, according to the Conservative Party.

Francis Maude, shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, said the advertising activity had “all the hallmarks of a banana republic, trying to buy the election by abusing public funds”, according to reports.

“Labour ministers have refused to publish details of the advertising and marketing campaigns that are being run at taxpayers’ expense in the run-up to the general election – pledging only to release the data in annual accounts in August 2010,” he said.

The Conservative party also claim that during the two previous general election, ad spend has soared in the months leading up to the election.

Government ad spend is prevented by a ‘state of purdah’ once the general election has been called, however, there are no restrictions on state advertising in the period before this.

The Tories have promised to cut COI budgets by as much as 40% if they get in at the election, while the Labour Party claim it will make reductions of around 25% but over a longer period of time.